Chapter 427: Three Possibilities

"Immortal Suiyue's naming skills are terrible. He named the Earlier Heaven Bagua, but I named the other three Bagua. Don't you think my names sound better?"

Immortal Wuxiu's contribution to Bagua theory wasn't just cheering from the sidelines; she also participated in the crucial naming process.

Lu Yang nodded, against his true feelings: "...Indeed, the names of the latter three Bagua are easy to understand."

"Bagua theory is an orthodox time-based spell. It's no exaggeration to say it encompasses all phenomena in the world. The Earlier Heaven Bagua observes the past, Today's Bagua controls the present, and Tomorrow's Bagua divines the future. These three represent the past, present, and future, forming a unified whole."

"The Later Heaven Bagua, on the other hand, represents the unpredictable distant future. Its predictions are only possibilities, making it the most difficult to master. Even Immortal Suiyue wouldn't claim to be able to predict events in the distant future, as there are too many variables."

"Forming formations using Bagua theory involves planning with time as a dimension, which is why cultivators of the same level find it difficult to deduce a method to break them."

After Immortal Wuxiu's explanation, Lu Yang felt that Bagua theory had regained its prestige.

"No wonder formation masters have been endlessly debating the Earlier Heaven Bagua and Later Heaven Bagua without resolution. It turns out they hadn't even grasped the fundamentals." Lu Yang inadvertently solved a problem that had plagued the formation world for 300,000 years.

Forget how the Earlier Heaven Bagua and Later Heaven Bagua are used; they hadn't even gone in the right direction. This is a theory of time-based spells.

If Lu Yang were to publish his research findings, it would undoubtedly shock the formation world. Even Old Man Ba, a master of formations, would serve him tea.

Time-based spells are abstruse and difficult to understand, making them the hardest spells to learn in the world. Even with extraordinary talent like Immortal Wuxiu, she only learned how to predict the weather.

Even with extraordinary talent like Lu Yang, he only learned how to "predict a future that won't happen."

At this moment, the various formation masters were still debating what kind of formation had been set up in Hanshui City and what its theoretical basis was.

"Enough, stop arguing!" Prefect Lu roared, finally intimidating the formation masters.

If they continued arguing, by the time the Dayu cultivators activated the formation, they still wouldn't have reached a conclusion.

"Master Fang, you are an Earlier Heaven Bagua master. According to your theory, what is the purpose of the formation set up by the Dayu cultivators, and how should it be broken?"

Master Fang, looking like an immortal with three wisps of white beard lending him a distinguished air, replied: "I haven't yet discerned the function of the formation within the city."

"The key to breaking it lies in the formation core. In my opinion, the core is located at Baihua Restaurant. The immediate priority is to seal off Baihua Restaurant. If there are fierce ghosts inside, it will confirm my suspicions!"

Prefect Lu then looked at another formation master: "Master Miao, you are a Later Heaven formation master. In your opinion, what is the purpose of the formation set up by the Dayu cultivators, and how should it be broken?"

"The formation in Hanshui City has the ability to invert the Later Heaven and overturn Yin and Yang. I'm just not sure what it intends to overturn. The way to break it also lies in the formation core. What puzzles me is that the core's location is at the entrance of the Corpse Driving Sect. There should be a fierce ghost acting as the core there, possibly with the ability to conceal itself, hidden right under the Corpse Driving Sect's nose!"

Master Miao was unaware, but Prefect Lu knew that with Huang Ming as an internal spy in the Corpse Driving Sect, placing a fierce ghost as the formation core wouldn't be difficult.

"Master Ren, what about you? You claim this is neither a Later Heaven formation nor an Earlier Heaven formation, but rather the Dayu cultivators overturning Yin and Yang?"

"Precisely. Yin and Yang are imbalanced, ten thousand ghosts are marching, and the city is in chaos. We just don't know if the Dayu cultivators plan to take advantage of this. The current priority is to accelerate the extermination of the fierce ghosts."

Prefect Lu pondered. Master Ren might not know what the chaos in the city would lead to, but he did. Hanshui City was the heart of Huangzhou, and chaos there would destabilize public morale, shaking the very foundation of Huangzhou's national destiny.

"Do any other masters have different opinions?" Prefect Lu looked at the other formation masters who hadn't spoken.

These masters shook their heads; their views fell within these three categories.

Seeing no other possibilities, Prefect Lu quickly made a decision and began assigning tasks: "Addressing the Earlier Heaven and Later Heaven theories shouldn't be difficult. Sect Master Qiu, please go to Baihua Restaurant to investigate and see if there's anything unusual."

If Baihua Restaurant was the formation core, there would certainly be fierce ghosts of the Great Ghost King level, making it extremely dangerous.

Prefect Lu was fortunate that Qiu Jin'an had come to Hanshui City; he was a great asset.

For dangerous places like a formation core, it would be safest to send a team of three to five cultivators at the Fusion Stage. However, they couldn't spare that many Fusion Stage cultivators for Baihua Restaurant right now. Fortunately, Qiu Jin'an alone was equivalent to three to five Fusion Stage cultivators.

"Alright, I'll go now," Qiu Jin'an replied calmly. He didn't feel there would be any danger even if Baihua Restaurant was the formation core.

"Regarding the Corpse Driving Sect, Sect Master Lu is in seclusion, so let Elder Gai thoroughly investigate the entire sect!"

Prefect Lu summoned a subordinate and instructed him to rush to the Corpse Driving Sect immediately to explain the situation.

With Sect Master Lu in seclusion, Elder Gai was effectively the Sect Master.

Prefect Lu didn't send Zhao Po to deliver the message; Zhao Po's cultivation was too low, and he was too slow. They needed to act quickly, every second counting.

Next, he summoned Sima Anping of Huangzhou: "Old An, we can't rely solely on the Corpse Driving Sect disciples. Deploy more personnel for a thorough search. We must resolve the ghost plague in Hanshui City as quickly as possible!"

"Understood!"

After assigning all tasks, Prefect Lu let out a sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease.

Prefect Lu also remembered to arrange for Lu Yang and his three companions: "Hanshui City is unsafe right now, so please stay at the manor. Once this matter is resolved, I will ask Sect Master Qiu to escort you back."

Lu Yang and his three companions offered to go out and help hunt ghosts, but Prefect Lu believed their identities were special, and it would be difficult to explain to the Dao-Seeking Sect if anything happened to them. He firmly refused. Helpless, Lu Yang and the others had no choice but to stay at the Prefect's manor.

"What? You mean Huang Ming cultivated from scratch after dispersing his cultivation as a Dayu cultivator!" When Elder Gai learned of this, his veins bulged, and he was furious.

The back mountain of the Corpse Driving Sect shook; this was where his true body resided.

Huang Ming was a Dayu spy, and he brazenly became the first place winner in the sect's grand competition. This was simply a stain on the Corpse Driving Sect, making them a laughingstock!

"Prefect Lu asking the sect to conduct its own investigation is giving the sect a chance. Investigate thoroughly, absolutely thoroughly!"

Elder Gai called out the other three elders and informed them of the matter. Their reactions were similar to his: they absolutely had to conduct a thorough search of the entire Corpse Driving Sect to see if Huang Ming had left any hidden tricks.

"Oh, I can't contact Meng Tian and Huang Ming anymore. I sense a clash between Fusion Stage cultivators outside the city. Did Meng Tian expose himself, fight with a Daxia cultivator, and get captured by Daxia?"

"If that's the case, our plan will be exposed soon. Given this, we can only make the first move."

In the secret room, a figure slowly rose, a confident smile playing on his lips. His body exuded a powerful aura that even a peak Fusion Stage cultivator couldn't possess.

The second update will be at eleven o'clock.